With widening fiscal deficits and increasing inefficiencies in production and consumption, subsidy reform has become urgent in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as the cost of subsidies has risen in response to greater social demands, causing significant fiscal pressures. In recent years, several countries in the MENA region—mostly oil importers, but also some oil-exporting countries—have begun to reform their subsidy systems to address these fiscal pressures and to ensure sustained economic progress.  

Please join us for a conversation with Daniela Gressani who will present the IMF’s latest assessment of these subsidy reforms as well as lessons from similar experiences in the rest of the world,   including complementary reforms of social safety nets, price-adjustment mechanisms, and energy sector policies. Justin Dargin, an expert on energy issues in the Middle East, will discuss political implications and efficiencies of reducing or removing energy subsidies. Malek Kabariti, former energy minister from Jordan, will outline his views on energy subsidies and the political difficulties in undertaking energy reforms. Mohsin Khan, who focuses on the economics of the Arab transitions, will moderate the discussion.